BISA Pusa, Samastipur

BISA-Pusa farm is located in the northern part of Samastipur district (250 57’08” – 250 57’44” N latitude and 850 40’13” – 850 40’57” E longitude). It is situated at an elevation of about 52 m above mean sea level. The climate of the site is characterized by hot and humid summers and cold winters with an average rainfall of 1200 mm, 70 percent (941 mm) of which occurs during July-September. Frequent droughts and floods are common in the region. The BISA farm at Pusa consists of 60 hectares of land.

Research at BISA-Pusa will be critical for eastern India, which is now considered the region that will trigger the second Green Revolution in India. Research results from BISA-Pusa will be applicable to eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bangladesh and the Tarai region of Nepal. Historically, Pusa gained significance as the headquarters for the Imperial Agricultural Department of the British Indian Government.

BISA-Pusa farm site, located near Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU), builds upon a 40-year relationship between CIMMYT and the university. The selection of this site is significant considering the fact that Bihar is India’s twelfth-largest state and has the third-largest population. Soils in the region have high salinity and alkalinity, and soil nutrient deficiencies are also a concern, specifically for sulfur, boron, and zinc. The state currently produces 6 percent of the wheat grown in India from 8 percent of the total land area dedicated to wheat production with an average yield of 1.5 tons per hectare for rainfed and 2.9 tons per hectare for irrigated conditions. The yield gap between farmers’ fields and demonstration plots is currently 1.2 tons per hectare.